Soil treatment



June 28, 1932. H ROSE ET AL 1,864,672

SOIL TREATMENT Filed June 1, 1929 Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT. OFFICE CORPORATION OF DELAWARE HAROLD J1 ROSE, OF PENN TOWNSHIP,ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AND

WILLIAM H. HILL, NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNORS TO THE KOPPEBS COMPANY, A

-SOIL- TREATMENT Application filed June 1, 1929. Serial No. 367,789.

This invention relates to improvements in soil surface coverings andprocesses for applying the same, and more particularly to coatingsapplied to the ground for agricul- 3 tural purposes.

It is well known that the yield and quality of garden, field and orchardcrops are great- 1y improved and the maturity thereof hastened bycovering the ground around the m plants with mulches made from paper orother fibrous materials.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved coveringmeans for the soil and a process of forming the same on the surfacethereof.

In accordance with the present invention, various types of bituminousmaterials are spread over the surface of the ground, preferably in theform 'of a relatively thin layer,

in any desired position with respect to the crop grown.

Melted asphalts, chemically altered asphalts, as for instance oxidizedasphalts, solutions of coal prepared in accordance with the processdescribed in application fi erial No. 97,467, filed March 25, 1926, tarsand pitches, either raw, prepared, or chemically altered, and naturalbituminous products of all kinds may be used.

Water emulsions of the above bituminous materials may be used, in whichcase certain stabilizers, such as bentonite, clay, soap, etc., may beadded.

Fibrous materials. if desired, may be added, preferably in finelydivided form, to the above substances to increase their tensilestrength. Alternatively fibrous materials may be spread on the surfaceof the ground and the bituminous materials applied thereto. Forinstance, pulp from old newspapers, sawdust or wood flour, flax, strawand hulls may be used. Fibrous mineral matter, such as rock wool or slagwool may also be used.

If desired, certain fillers may be added, such as clay, fine sand, rockdust. granulated slag, dry sifted soil, pulverized coal, coke dust, etc.

Coal solutions, referred to above, may be prepared by dissolving coal inoils such as coal 50 tar or water-gas tar and certain distillates ness.bituminous material is more easily app therefrom, or cracked petroleumoils. A coal solution may be readily prepared by heating a mixture ofcoal and oil to a temperature of from about 200 C. to about 400 C. withor without pressure.

Substantially all of the coal dissolves, forming homogeneous solutionswhich remain stable at temperatures below the point of rapidvolatilization or even below the dissolvmg temperatures. The insolubleportions of the coal, namely, the mineral matter or ash and the mineralcharcoal or fusain, may re- Ifpfiim in the solution and act asadditional ers.

Coal solutions or other treated bituminous materials may be prepared sothat at normal temperatures they may be of various degrees of toughnessand hardness and are relatively little affected by weather conditions.They may be prepared so as to produce thin layers of unusual toughnessfor bituminous materials and when employed on slopes they willI10tTIl:1I1Il inthot weatlger. 1

ecoa ingma ea iedb s rain or spreading melted or eiiiillsified ldituinirfims compositions on the soil in sufiicient quantity to form asurface layer of any desired thick- When in the "form of an emulsion,lied. The bituminous material may also be sprinkled over the soil inpowdered or mastic form, after which the particles can be made tocoalesce to form a film by means of pressure with a roller or otherdevice and by the heat from the sun or other source.

In some cases when the bituminous material is quite fluid, it willpenetrate the soil a slight distance beneath the surface, and yet it maybe of such consistency as to form a continuous surface film.

After the film is laid it may be shaped in any manner desired, dependingon the requirements of the crops grown. In some cases the rows and hillsmay be formed first and the protective layer will conform therewith.

The coating layer is preferably formed on the surface of the ground byvarious methods and in various shapes, as diagrammatically illustratedin the accompanying drawing in which Figs. 1-4 are perspective views,partly in cross section,

of portions of earth provided I with various forms of coating layers;

Fig. 5 is a form; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view of the arrangement shown inFig. 5.

In preparing soil for agricultural purposes, a continuous coating of thebituminous composition may be placed over the entire cultivated area andthen the coating may be slitted to permit transplanting or the insertionof seeds in rows or hills. However, the coating may be placed on theground after seeding. Also, after the plants have appeared, coatings maybe placed over the ground around the stems of the plants.

In each of the figures shown, the thickness of the coating layer issomewhat exaggerated perspective view of another for clearness ofillustration, and, in proportion to the other dimensions as shown, itwould preferably be somewhat less.

In Fig. 1, coating layers 1 are shown between the rows of plants, and soshaped as to promote drainage to the plants in soil 2. For this purposethe upper surfaces of the layers 1 are convex and the edges spaced apartto permit insertion of plants or seeds 3.

In Fig. 2, coating layers 4 are positioned in the same manner withrespect to the plants as layers 1 in Fig. 1. The upper surfaces oflayers 4, however, are concave to promote surface drainage and theapplication of fertilizer to places at a predetermined distance from thestems of plants or seeds 3. For this purpose, perforations or slits 5may be provided wherever desired in the layers 4.

The coating is perforated to permit the supply of oxygen, nitrogen andmoisture and also to control evaporation, the rate and nature ofchemical changes in the soil, the activity of bacteria, othermicro-organisms, insects and worms, decay of humus, concentration ofcarbon dioxide, etc. The nature of the crop and the character of thesoil and climate determine the area which is to remain uncoated.

In Fig. 3, relatively flat strips 6 of bituminous material are placedbetween rows and have their longitudinal edges turned downwardly intothe soil adjacent the plant stems. This formation tends to reduce damagefrom out worms, and so forth.

Fig. 4 shows the application of bituminous material? to the sides ofridges in which the plants grow. The surface of the soil 2 may, ifdesired, be left uncovered in the valleys between the ridges.

When plants are grown in hills, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a layer 8 maybe formed on the sides of the hills and an opening 9 left at the top forthe stem of the plant.

Where bituminous coating materials are employed in connection with anorchard, vineyard or field where the same crop requires several years tomature, a thick coating designed to last several years may be employed.Additional coatings may be applied to reinforce or patch the earliercoatings. Provision may be made for plowing or culti vating the soil atintervals. In certain cases two or more crops may be grown one after theother without disturbing the coating.

coating of such composition and thickness may be used which will permitsatisfactory plowing under and disintegration, articularly followingoxidation and embritt ing of the coating when exposed to sunlight andweather.

Besides plowing under the bituminous layer, it may be disposed of bytaking it up in rolls. Owing to surface alteration or dust, the coatingwill not stick while in the rolls and may be stored for later use.

If desired, the coating may be readily taken up and melted or otherwiseWorked up for reuse. Goarse impurities may be strained out or allowed toseparate by gravity. Fresh materials may be added to the reclaimedmaterial. v

The use of bituminous coatings is especially recommended in ariddistricts where it is desirable to reduce all possible moisture 95losses except through respiration by the plants. The coating can be madeto direct moisture to the plant and can be usefully employed inconjunction with irrigation.

The bituminous coating materials may be we applied to the margins ofgardens or fields and roadsides, as well as around plants, as a means ofreducing evaporation and of keeping down weeds, and may be left oncertain areas through the winter season to prevent 105 soil losses bywashing or by erosion.

Certain plants, such as melons, squash, etc., are subject to severeattacks by pests which bore into recumbent stems, or fruits in contactwith the ground. Coatings applied in 110 accordance with our inventionhelp to control such attacks. Furthermore, the coatings tend to reducedecay and attacks by fungus where the fruit touches the ground and willpromote ripening at the point of contact.

Bituminous materials used in the manner described have a relatively lowfirst cost and long life. The coating is not likely to be blown away bythe wind and since t lies in direct contact with the soil, it is n tlikely 1 0 that insects will seek shelter beneath it. The coatings, asused in practice, are very effective in preventing germination of eedseeds and may be of suflicient thickness and toughness to resistpenetration by sprouting weeds. 125

lVe claim as our invention:

1. A process of preparing a covering for soil used for raising crops,which comprises spreading a coating of a composition comprising coal andoil on the surface of the 130 growth,

sail in a given area and providing openingsv soil used for raislngcrops, which comprises spraying a composition comprising coal and oil onthe surface of the soil over restricted areas to form a continuous filmof the said composition on the said areas.

4. A process of preparing a covering for soil used for raising crops,which comprises spraying a composition comprising coal an oil on thesurface of the soil, forming a continuous layer of the said composition,an

providing openings in the layer at intervals for plant growth and forthe passage of moisture.

5. A process of preparing a covering for soil used for raising crops,which comprises spraying a composition comprising coal and oil on thesurface of the soil, forming a continuous layer of the said compositionhaving openings in the said and shaping the said layer to control thedrainage of water with respect to the openings.

6. A covering for soil adapted for plant growth, which comprises a layerof a composition compnsing coal and oil adapted to be placed in thevicinity of plants, the said layer eing of such shape as to control thepassage of water to and from the plants.

7. A covering for. soil adapted for plant growth, which comprises alayer of a composition comprising coal and oil adapted to e positionedin the vicinity of plants, the said layer having a curved upper surfaceand adapted to control the passage of water to and from the plants.

8. A covering for soil adapted for plant growth, which comprises a layerof a composition comprising 'coal and oil adapted to e positioned in thevicinity of plants and in direct contact with the soil.

9. A' covering for soil adapted for plant growth, which comprises alayer of a comosition comprising coal and oil adapted to e ositioned inthe vicinity of plants, the sai layer being perforated to control thepassage of water to and from the soil.

10. A covering for soil adapted for plant growth, which comprises alayer of a composition contaming a solution of coal in oil. 11.- Acovering for soil adapted for plant position comprising coal and oil andfibres. 12. A covering for soil adapted for plant growth, whichcomprises a layer of a com- EQSltlOIl comprising coal and oil and afiller lstributed throughout the said layer.

layer for plant growth,

which comprises a layer of a comv 13. A process of preparing a coveringfor soil used for raising crops, which comprises spreadin fibrousmaterlal over the surface of the so1l and then spreading a compositioncomprising coal and oil on the fibrous ma terial.

14. A process of preparing a covering for soil used for raising crops,which comprises spraying an emulsion containin bituminous matter, toform a layer of bituminous matter on the surface of the soil in thevicinity'of plants.

15. A process of preparing a covering for soil used for raising cro s,which comprises spreading a mixture of a ituminous emulsion and paperpulp, to form a layer of the said mixture on the surface of the soil inthe vicinitXof plants.

16. covering for soil adapted for plant growth, which comprises a layerof bituminous matter in contact with the soil, the said layer having aconvex upper surface and having its edges directed downward into thesoil in the vicinity of the lant growth.

In testimony whereo I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th da ofMay, 1929.

HAROL J. ROSE. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 25th dafiof May, 1929.

WILLIA H. ILL.

